Includes "No Diggity", 'This Is How We Roll", "Good Lovin", "Let's Stay In Love", "Never Gonna Let You Go", "I Wanna Be Your Man", "I'll Give It To You", "Motherlude" and "Happy Song (Tonite)". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

From his debut Dark Days, Bright Nights. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Dre's solid and hugely successful follow-up to The Chronic, and production-wise it holds up really well after all these years! Chronic set the sound bar so high, even 6 or 7 years later its shadow loomed large, but Dre delivers a headnodding groove that was pretty tough to resist, then and now. The most misogynist rhymes haven't aged nearly as well, but guests Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Xzibit, Hittman, Kurupt and more have some nice moments. 22 tracks counting interludes, including "Still DRE", "Xxplosive", 'What's The Difference", 'The Next Episode", "Let's Get High" and more. . . LP, Vinyl record album

How 50 manages to stand out as such a genuinely exciting MC is in such a crowded field of street hip hop is as mysterious as it is beside the point. Dr. Dre's love for that minimalist ghetto synth orchestra sound is in full depth here, this is probably as strong as any production work he's ever done, layered right over 50's denser, more blunted underground style with G Unit. This isn't just a production triumph though – 50's lazy, amused and knowing delivery is as infectious as it is instantly identifiable – and is no more derivative than any other gunshot-accented work out there. Slim says it best on one of his guest spots when he calls 50 the "juggernaut of this rap isht whether you like it or not". "What Up Gangsta", "Patiently Waiting", "Many Men (Wish Death)", "In Da Club", "High All The Time", "Back Down" and more. CD

Kendrick Lamarr waited quite a long time to give the world a follow-up to his classic DAMN – and for good reason too, as the rapper's been on a long personal journey that's documented strongly on the record! The Kendrick heard here is much more introspective than before – and that's saying a lot, given his previous approach – and tunes here deal with issues of personal struggle, healing, and redemption – but all with the kind of sharp edges and sense of fragility that keeps the record from ever feeling to smug or full of itself. Opinions started flying about the record right from the start, and there's plenty here to build your own understanding too – on titles that include "Father Time", "Die Hard", "United In Grief", "We Cry Together", "Count Me Out", "Purple Hearts", "Rich Spirit", "Crown", "Savior", and "Silent Hill". LP, Vinyl record album

Kendrick Lamar takes wider creative left turns than ever before on To Pimp A Butterfly – with a funk steeped production style that filters tried-and-true P Funk influences through leftfield modern beatcraft styles, inspired by cats like Madlib to Thundercat, the latter of whom is an official contributor. Fresh material from an increasingly pivotal figure – who may not be revolutionizing the game on the level of the heavy critical praise he's heaped with, but he's certainly marching to his own beat, rather than chasing hits! Includes "Wesley's Theory" with George Clinton & Thundercat, "King Kunta", "These Walls" with Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat, "Aright", "For Sale?", "Institutionalized" with a Slick Rick-homage of a guest verse by Snoop Dogg (sign us up for any record that gives props to The Ruler...and extra points for transplanting that style of flow to Compton), "Momma", "Hood Politics", "The Blacker The Berry", "How Much A Dollar Cost" feat James Fauntleroy & Ronald Isley, "Mortal Man" and more. CD

Kendrick Lamar takes wider creative left turns than ever before on To Pimp A Butterfly – with a funk steeped production style that filters tried-and-true P Funk influences through leftfield modern beatcraft styles, inspired by cats like Madlib to Thundercat, the latter of whom is an official contributor. Fresh material from an increasingly pivotal figure – who may not be revolutionizing the game on the level of the heavy critical praise he's heaped with, but he's certainly marching to his own beat, rather than chasing hits! Includes "Wesley's Theory" with George Clinton & Thundercat, "King Kunta", "These Walls" with Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat, "Aright", "For Sale?", "Institutionalized" with a Slick Rick-homage of a guest verse by Snoop Dogg (sign us up for any record that gives props to The Ruler...and extra points for transplanting that style of flow to Compton), "Momma", "Hood Politics", "The Blacker The Berry", "How Much A Dollar Cost" feat James Fauntleroy & Ronald Isley, "Mortal Man" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Remixed by Ralphi Rosario and Fernando Garibay. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Production by Swizz Beatz, Alchemist, Buckwild, DJ Clue, and Ayatollah, plus guest spots by Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, Angie Stone, and MOP. LP, Vinyl record album

The first and only volume from Tupac's Thug Life group – with Big Syke, Macadoshis, Mopreme, The Rated R guest appearances by YNV & Nate Dogg – raw street rap with an uncommonly soulful backdrop for the time! Thug Life came out in the midst of the early 90s gangsta rap media backlash, and whether or the final track list was a result of that or not, the mix of hardcore rhymes with some more tender soul samples of The O'Jays, Curtis Mayfield and more on a few tracks give a more contemplative vibe here and there – and Tupac is at near peak charismatic flow on his turns at the mic, too. Includes "Bury Me A G" with Natasha Walker of YNV, "Don't Get It Twisted", "Pour Out A Little Liquor", "Stay True", "Under Pressure", "Street Fame", "Cradle To The Grave", "Str8 Ballin'". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Pre-pop takeover era hip hop from a younger, hungry Black Eyed Peas! Tracks include "Joints & Jam", "Fallin Up", "Karma", "Movement", "The Way U Make Me Feel", "Positivity", "Que Dices?", "Communication", "Be Free", "What It Is", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The first solo set that Dr Dre cut after leaving NWA – and a record that not only set the tone for his solo career, but also for a huge run of albums from other folks in the years to come! Dre's as much of a production genius as he is a frontman here – really pushing forward some of the best elements he brought to the music of NWA, and also providing a great showcase for the young Snoop Dogg too! And yes, there were so many other records that tried to hit this territory right afterwards, and ended up more in the realm of parody – but the doctor really stays ahead of the pack here throughout, with a record that holds up surprisingly well over the years. Titles include the cuts "F**k Wit Dre Day", "Let Me Ride", "Nuthin' But A G Thang", "Lil Ghetto Boy", "A N***a Witta Gun", "B!tches Ain't Sh!t", "The Chronic", "Deeez Nuts", and "Stranded On Death Row". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

A batch of some of the best and/or biggest hits from one of the most singular talents in the history of hip hop – love him or loathe him! Most of our favorite Shady tracks either pre-date many of the ones here or were buried on the LPs (such is the case with most greatest hits packages) but it's still worth picking up if you don't have all the LPs, particularly the lesser later couple! It includes a few new tracks, to boot. 17 tracks on 2LPs (including the intro): "Fack", "The Way I Am", "My Name Is", "Stan" (main version plus live bonus version feat Elton John), "Lose Yourself", "Without Me", "Like Toy Soldiers", "The Real Slim Shady", "Mocking Bird", "Guilty Conscience" feat Dr Dre, "Just Lose It" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Eminem at an early, angry, darkly comic peak –mixing rawly personal storytelling and revenge fantasies with a cynical sense of humor in ways that weren't entirely unheard of in underground hip hop, but his voice was so distinctive in both sound and style, and blew up so huge, he pretty much redefined popular hip hop and pop music forever. The production by The Bass Brothers, Dr Dre and Eminem himself aren't exactly raw or spare, but they leave so much room for Em's scary, funny, disturbing rhymes to do their damage – and for all the hype about how offensive they are, Em went after himself as viciously as anyone else. It's fascinating to this day. Includes "My Name Is", "Guilty Conscience", "Paul", "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" "Rock Bottom", "As The World Turns", "Bad Meets Evil" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

How 50 manages to stand out as such a genuinely exciting MC is in such a crowded field of street hip hop is as mysterious as it is beside the point. Dr. Dre's love for that minimalist ghetto synth orchestra sound is in full depth here, this is probably as strong as any production work he's ever done, layered right over 50's denser, more blunted underground style with G Unit. This isn't just a production triumph though – 50's lazy, amused and knowing delivery is as infectious as it is instantly identifiable – and is no more derivative than any other gunshot-accented work out there. Slim says it best on one of his guest spots when he calls 50 the "juggernaut of this rap isht whether you like it or not". "What Up Gangsta", "Patiently Waiting", "Many Men (Wish Death)", "In Da Club", "High All The Time", "Back Down" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

DAMN!, indeed – Kendrick has yet to take even a small step down from the creative peak he's been riding for years – and takes another daring step forward with this strong, strident, no-mess-taking classic in the making! The surprise-announced DAMN! finds him taking on timely concerns – some longtime inherent to everyday racial, social, and class struggles in American life, and others that are purely personal. The production is diverse to a degree, but a bit straight forward compared to the sprawling, years-in-the-making To Pimp A Butterfly – all by design, as DAMN! is clearly made to sound fresh and urgent right now. But like all great musical art, it's built to stand the test of time. Includes guest producers, musicians and vocalists as varied as Thundercat, U2, Kamasi Washington, Kid Capri and Rihanna. Titles include "BLOOD.", "DNA.", "YAH.", "ELEMENT.", "LOYALTY." feat Rihanna, "PRIDE.", "LUST." with strings arranged by Kamasi Washington, "XXX." feat U2, "FEAR.", "GOD." and "DUCKWORTH." CD

DAMN!, indeed – Kendrick has yet to take even a small step down from the creative peak he's been riding for years – and takes another daring step forward with this strong, strident, no-mess-taking classic in the making! The surprise-announced DAMN! finds him taking on timely concerns – some longtime inherent to everyday racial, social, and class struggles in American life, and others that are purely personal. The production is diverse to a degree, but a bit straight forward compared to the sprawling, years-in-the-making To Pimp A Butterfly – all by design, as DAMN! is clearly made to sound fresh and urgent right now. But like all great musical art, it's built to stand the test of time. Includes guest producers, musicians and vocalists as varied as Thundercat, U2, Kamasi Washington, Kid Capri and Rihanna. Titles include "BLOOD.", "DNA.", "YAH.", "ELEMENT.", "LOYALTY." feat Rihanna, "PRIDE.", "LUST." with strings arranged by Kamasi Washington, "XXX." feat U2, "FEAR.", "GOD." and "DUCKWORTH." LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from Kendrick Lamar, and the one that really helped bring his talents to the rest of the world – and maybe mark a whole new generation of hip hop in the process! At some level, Lamar is in the same territory as many of the south Cali rappers before him – with tales of rough life on the mean streets – but his approach here is very different, both in terms of the personal quality in the lyrics and the subtle drama in his presentation – and the lean production, which seems to strip things bare, and avoid the thuggish cliches that might celebrate such a background. Even the title alone hints at the tension that's made the record so durable over the years – and titles include "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "The Art Of Peer Pressure", "Money Trees", "Poetic Justice", "MAAD City", "Singing About Me I'm Dying Of Thirst", "Real", and "Compton". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Produced by Havoc and Sha Money XL. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Nas guests on the Swizz Beats remix. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Featuring Jay-Z. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Featuring Drag-On and Juvenile. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

Just before he got too hot for Jive and jumped to Death Row, this is the album where Pac moves above the Thug Life image he worked so hard to craft and delivered the lyrical goods with both his street stories and more introspective rhymes – helping set up his legacy as one of the most soul searching of street rappers – a reputation that stands to this day! Includes uber classic singles like "Dear Mama" and "So Many Tears", plus "Temptations", "If I Die 2 Nite", "Me Against The World", "Heavy In The Game", "Old School", "F*ck The World", "Death Around The Corner" and "Outlaw". Classic! CD

DVD contains a documentary and bonus videos. CD

... CD

... CD

Dre's solid and hugely successful follow-up to The Chronic, and production-wise it holds up really well after all these years! Chronic set the sound bar so high, even 6 or 7 years later its shadow loomed large, but Dre delivers a headnodding groove that was pretty tough to resist, then and now. The most misogynist rhymes haven't aged nearly as well, but guests Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Xzibit, Hittman, Kurupt and more have some nice moments. 22 tracks counting interludes, including "Still DRE", "Xxplosive", 'What's The Difference", 'The Next Episode", "Let's Get High" and more. . . CD

Titles include "XXplosive", "What's The Difference", "Bar One", "Light Speed", "Forgot About Dre", "Bang Bang", "The Message", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The first solo set that Dr Dre cut after leaving NWA – and a record that not only set the tone for his solo career, but also for a huge run of albums from other folks in the years to come! Dre's as much of a production genius as he is a frontman here – really pushing forward some of the best elements he brought to the music of NWA, and also providing a great showcase for the young Snoop Dogg too! And yes, there were so many other records that tried to hit this territory right afterwards, and ended up more in the realm of parody – but the doctor really stays ahead of the pack here throughout, with a record that holds up surprisingly well over the years. Titles include the cuts "F**k Wit Dre Day", "Let Me Ride", "Nuthin' But A G Thang", "Lil Ghetto Boy", "A N***a Witta Gun", "B!tches Ain't Sh!t", "The Chronic", "Deeez Nuts", and "Stranded On Death Row". LP, Vinyl record album

D12's sophmore full length is a pretty fair improvement over the largely forgettable debut – particularly the single "My Band", one of the rare cuts in which Eminem seems to have a pretty good time lampooning is own image. Other tracks include "Git Up", "Loyalty" featuring Obie Trice, "Just Like U", "In The Morning", "How Come", "D12 World", "American Psycho II" featuring B-Real and more. CD

A batch of some of the best and/or biggest hits from one of the most singular talents in the history of hip hop – love him or loathe him! Most of our favorite Shady tracks either pre-date many of the ones here or were buried on the LPs (such is the case with most greatest hits packages) but it's still worth picking up if you don't have all the LPs, particularly the lesser later couple! It includes a few new tracks, to boot. 17 tracks on 2LPs (including the intro): "Fack", "The Way I Am", "My Name Is", "Stan" (main version plus live bonus version feat Elton John), "Lose Yourself", "Without Me", "Like Toy Soldiers", "The Real Slim Shady", "Mocking Bird", "Guilty Conscience" feat Dr Dre, "Just Lose It" and more. Includes an extra disc titled Stan's Mixtape. CD

More gallows humor, and dark, clever wordplay from Slim, with an occasional party bounce and maybe not as pitch black as some of the material on the previous LPs. Cultural phenomenon status aside, The Show finds the Shady one still up there as one of the better narrative storytellers, but we have to admit we're sometimes as puzzled as anyone by where he focuses his anger (humor?). Mom, dad, and Kim of course, but Moby and Limp Bizkit? THOSE are the battles? Still, the bile is expertly delivered as usual, Dr. Dre's beats are as funky and strong as you'd expect, and the whole thing is laid out like a creepy, alternate reality Vaudeville production. No morose epics along the lines of "Stan" (the "Hotel California" of its era) but "Sing For The Moment" tries. Pretty solid all the way through except for the lazy Aerosmith sample. Includes "White America", "Business", "Cleanin' Out My Closet", "Square Dance", "Soldier", "Drips", "Without Me", "Sing For The Moment", "Hailie's Song", "When The Music Stops", "Say What You Say", "Till I Collapse", and the geniunely good-humored "My Dad's Gone Crazy". LP, Vinyl record album

Eminem's 2nd LP, where the sh!t REALLY hits the fan. What's still striking and genuinely exciting about this record, which is hardly worth even describing considering the mountains of opinions, protests, and moral grand standing, is Em's willingness to keep instigating the people he offended. Throughout the years it seems that all of the hugely controversial pop artists backed off a little or explained themselves when things got out of hand. Rappers like Ice T and 2 Live Crew, and rockers like Marilyn Manson all made appearances on talk shows, to at least defend their artistic expression when they were accused by conservatives and/or liberal thought police. Eminem saw what was happening, and reacted by sinking bigger bait, which of course hooked meatier targets – the most amusing of which came from overrated VH1 celebrity gadfly/commercial jingle composer Moby, and Lynn freakin' Cheney of all people. Very impressive, Slim. Oh yeah, he raps, too. Includes the tracks "Kill You", the mega singles "The Real Slim Shady" & "Stan", "Remember Me", "I'm Back", "Drug Ballad", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Label compilation from Shady featuring the starting line up of Em, D12, and G-Unit along with label rookies Bobby Creekwater, Cashis, and Stat Quo. 22 tracks in all with skits. Titles include the posse cut "We're Back", "The Re-up" and "Jimmy Crack Corn" with Eminem and 50, "Public Enemy #1" and "No Apologies" by Eminem, and the Eminem remix of 50's "Ski Mask Way". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

With Gwen Stefani and Styles Of The Lox. Produced by Dr. Dre. 12-inch, Vinyl record

With Jadakiss and Styles on "Double R What". 12-inch, Vinyl record

Produced by Timbaland. 12-inch, Vinyl record

With Eve on "Recognize", produced by DJ Premier. 12-inch, Vinyl record

With Timbaland and Eve. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

With Chino XL, Eminem, Jay O Felony, KRS -One, Kool G Rap, Pharaohe Monch, RZA, Tech N9ne, and Xzibit on "The Anthem". 12-inch, Vinyl record

Just before he got too hot for Jive and jumped to Death Row, this is the album where Pac moves above the Thug Life image he worked so hard to craft and delivered the lyrical goods with both his street stories and more introspective rhymes – helping set up his legacy as one of the most soul searching of street rappers – a reputation that stands to this day! Includes uber classic singles like "Dear Mama" and "So Many Tears", plus "Temptations", "If I Die 2 Nite", "Me Against The World", "Heavy In The Game", "Old School", "F*ck The World", "Death Around The Corner" and "Outlaw". Classic! LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... CD

... CD

From The Rugrats soundtrack, featuring Mase and Blinky Blink. 12-inch, Vinyl record

The track that introduced Daft Punk to a generation of 106th & Park viewers, "Touch It" is just about as great of a club banger as you're likely to hear, with monster Swizz Beats production. 12-inch, Vinyl record

4 tracks from the soundtrack, with clean and dirty versions of each: Obie Trice/Eminem/50 Cent "Love Me", Eminem "8 Mile", Obie Trice "Adrenaline Rush" and D12 "Rap Game". 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Production by The Neptunes, DJ Premier, Swizz Beats, and Timbaland. LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Featuring Sisqo. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

With remixes by Meat Beat Manifesto, Nine Inch Nails, Plug, Aphrodite, The Orb, and Spacetime Continuum. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Produced by Dr Dre. 12-inch, Vinyl record

From the 8 Mile soundtrack. 12-inch, Vinyl record

With Jadakiss and Eve. 12-inch, Vinyl record

The landmark debut of 2Pac – hard rhymes and gritty production laying the bedrock for an iconic legacy! 2Pac's voice is front and center throughout, nothing tentative about the rhymes or delivery, and true to legend, every word feels honest and real, whether you're comfortable with it or not. Classic! Tracks include "Young Black Male", "Trapped", "Soulja's Story", "I Don't Give a F**k", "Violent", "Words Of Wisdom", "Something Wicked...", "Crooked A** N**a", "If My Homie Calls", "Brenda's Got A Baby", "Tha Lunatic", "Rebel Of The Underground", and "Part Time Mutha". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... CD

David Banner & Lil' Flip guest on "Welcome To The South". 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

The G-Unit heavy soundtrack to 50's semi-autobiographical film debut. Tracks include "Hustler's Ambition", "Window Shopper", "Talk About Me", "When It Rains It Pours" and "Best Friend" by 50 Cent, "Things Change" by Spider Loc feat 50 Cent & Lloyd Banks, "You Already Know" by Lloyd Banks feat 50 Cent & Young Buck, "When Death Becomes You" by MOP feat 50 Cent, Don't Need No Help" by Young Buck, "You A Shooter" by Mobb Deep feat 50 Cent, "Fake Love" by Tony Yayo and more. LP, Vinyl record album